Surface Compositions Across Pluto and Charon

W. M. Grundy; R. P. Binzel; B. J. Buratti; J. C. Cook; D. P. Cruikshank; C. M. Dalle Ore; A. M. Earle; K. Ennico; C. J. A. Howett; A. W. Lunsford; C. B. Olkin; A. H. Parker; S. Philippe; S. Protopapa; E. Quirico; D. C. Reuter; B. Schmitt; K. N. Singer; A. J. Verbiscer; R. A. Beyer; M. W. Buie; A. F. Cheng; D. E. Jennings; I. R. Linscott; J. Wm. Parker; P. M. Schenk; J. R. Spencer; J. A. Stansberry; S. A. Stern; H. B. Throop; C. C. C. Tsang; H. A. Weaver; G. E. Weigle II; L. A. Young; the New Horizons Science Team

doi:10.1126/science.aad9189

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arXiv · 1604.05368

Surface Compositions Across Pluto and Charon

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Abstract

The New Horizons spacecraft mapped colors and infrared spectra across the encounter hemispheres of Pluto and Charon. The volatile ices CH$_4$, CO, and N$_2$, that dominate Pluto's surface, have complicated spatial distributions resulting from sublimation, condensation, and glacial flow acting over seasonal and geological timescales. Pluto's H$_2$O ice "bedrock" is also mapped, with isolated outcrops occurring in a variety of settings. Pluto's surface exhibits complex regional color diversity associated with its distinct provinces. Charon's color pattern is simpler, dominated by neutral low latitudes and a reddish northern polar region. Charon near infrared spectra reveal highly localized areas with strong NH$_3$ absorption tied to small craters with relatively fresh-appearing impact ejecta.

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W. M. Grundy, R. P. Binzel, B. J. Buratti, J. C. Cook, D. P. Cruikshank, C. M. Dalle Ore, A. M. Earle, K. Ennico, C. J. A. Howett, A. W. Lunsford, C. B. Olkin, A. H. Parker, S. Philippe, S. Protopapa, E. Quirico, D. C. Reuter, B. Schmitt, K. N. Singer, A. J. Verbiscer, R. A. Beyer, M. W. Buie, A. F. Cheng, D. E. Jennings, I. R. Linscott, J. Wm. Parker, P. M. Schenk, J. R. Spencer, J. A. Stansberry, S. A. Stern, H. B. Throop, C. C. C. Tsang, H. A. Weaver, G. E. Weigle II, L. A. Young, the New Horizons Science Team. 2016-04-18. Surface Compositions Across Pluto and Charon. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad9189

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